Anand presented Chess Oscar

Anand virtually snatched the coveted prize from the world champion Garry Kasparov when over three hundred Grandmasters and chess media experts from more than 50 countries for the first time named him as the world8217;s best chess player.

To the surprise of Kasparov, twice holder of the Chess Oscar, organisers of many international chess tournaments also rated Anand as the top player, editor of the Russian Chess Magazine, Roshal told PTI, adding that Kasparov had sent his representatives to monitor the counting of votes, when he learnt that he was trailing Anand.

Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Victor Korchnoi, Anatoly Karpovbesides Kasparov are the other recepients of the award.